Saturday, March 18, 2017

Comfort Zone - A Poem by Prof Richard Mabala

First they came for the big guysThey were all fisadisBut I am not a fisadi so why should I speak out?Even if no evidence has been given against themWe were told they were fisadisWhat greater evidence do you want?Silently I applauded.

Then they came for the artistsDecadent artists leading immoral livesWhy should I support them?No evidence again but God had spokenI said not a word.

Of course they came for the gaysEven wanted to publicly declare their namesEven more disgusting than the artistsI don't care whether they do it in private or notThey deserve it.No need to speak out

They also came for the activistsThose arrogant unelected nobodiesPushing their own agendas as if they were the people's choiceThey had to be silencedSo silent I remained.

Then they came for an AsianThese Asians, don't we know themThey are just exploiting usHow can he claim to be a citizen like me?A proud TanzanianSo what if he was a councillor in my own partyWhy should I speak for these exploiters?And anyway I support that other teamToo patriotic to support him or his team.So no need to speak outEven if there seems be a vendetta against himFor daring to threaten the son of GodSilence is golden

Then they came for the opposition.Why should they go on politicking even after the election.Throw them in jailAnd keep them there to show our leaders brook no oppositionOpposition disrupts their good intentions.Troublemakers.They deserve to stay in jailI said nothing

The same is true of those peopleWho used unbecoming languageOn FacebookThey should have known betterThey were warnedBut still the persisted.Why should I speak in their favour

Then they came for the lawyersEspecially those dumb oppositionist lawyersWanting to take over their associationAnd become activistActivist? Really?We know those lawyers are just after moneyAnd powerCorrupt.Surely they can defend themselves anyway.Say nothing.

Then they came for their own party membersHa ha ha. You see their foolishnessFraternising with the enemy when politics is no longer about adversariesBut enemies.They couldn't even see which way the wind is blowingAnd bow before itThey were flattenedAnd I will never say a wordEven if they belonged to my partyUnlike them, I am loyalAlways loyal.

But hang onWhat are those boots outside my door?What have I done?HELP! Will someone speak out for me?I have done nothing.Why the silence?Am I the only one left?

About Me

I worked for Tanzania's Daily News for 11 years leaving as a Senior Reporter. I love acting, films, short story writing and cooking. I blog in English and Swahili. I am a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and AFTRA.
You can contact me at chemiche3@yahoo.com.